New Yorkers To Protest NFL In Solidarity With Kaepernick

The "United We Stand" rally is scheduled to take place Wednesday, August 23 outside the NFL headquarters.

The New York Justice League—helmed by famed Women’s March chieftain and Time’s 100 Most Influential People honoree Tamika Mallory—will hold a rally Wednesday in support of free agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who apparently has been “white-balled” by the National Football League for taking a stand, um, knee, for social and racial justice in America.

“Colin Kaepernick used his Constitutional right to free speech and took a knee on behalf of black lives,” Mallory said in an email statement to NewsOne. “Within his field – where players have been excused for egregious behaviors like violence against women—it is clear team owners are making a statement, and we as consumers, viewers and people of good moral conscience must make a statement as well.”

“Colin Kaepernick used his Constitutional right to free speech and took a knee on behalf of black lives. Within his field – where players have been excused for egregious behaviors like violence against women—it is clear team owners are making a statement, and we as consumers, viewers and people of good moral conscience must make a statement as well.”—Tamika Mallory, New York Justice League

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During the 2016-2017 NFL season, the then-quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers was widely praised and criticized for his decision to kneel or sit when the national anthem was being played before games. He touched off a movement, inspiring professional and amateur athletes alike to protest police violence against people of color.

Although rumors persisted that Kaepernick was close to being signed by the Baltimore Ravens, this prospect was eventually scuttled amid divisive commentary from NFL retiree Ray Lewis, the owner, and other critics.

Kaepernick’s supporters’ hopes were given a second look via the Miami Dolphins—then dashed again by generally salty Miami fan backlash to a Fidel Castro t-shirt that Kaepernick wore in the city last season and the team’s hiring of a widely maligned quarterback, Jay Cutler, who was pulled out of retirement and ushered onto the field instead of Kap.

A lot has been made of Kaepernick’s playing abilities, with some calling him great to mediocre. Point of fact, during last season with the 49ers, he threw 16 touchdowns and four interceptions in 12 games, according to Sports Illustrated.

Despite this proven productivity, after the first week of pre-season football, Kaepernick remains unemployed by the NFL, whose ownership group appears to be in collusion to keep him out of the sport. This confederacy of NFL owners has only drawn further backlash from mostly African-American fans who remain opposed to supporting the NFL in anyway until it gives Kaepernick a fair chance of employment based on his skill set, not his beliefs. Even New York Police Department officers of color held a televised rally this past weekend in support of Kaepernick, and many fans are blacking out their NFL team jerseys by covering them with black T-shirts in viral social media posts.

7. “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. “- MLK

10 Powerful Photos Of Colin Kaepernick Looking Like Black Excellence

In 2016, Colin Kaepernick went from a famous NFL player to an infamous civil rights activist after deciding to kneel during the National Anthem to protest against the injustices African-Americans face in this country.
Kaepernick made standing up for what you believe in something to aspire to. The quarterback presented a bold statement and gave life to an old trend by letting his afro grow and flourish. If that wasn’t Black enough, he even rocked cornrows for a while during the season.
We honor his confidence, strength and Blackness with photos of Colin Kaepernick looking like Black excellence. #KaepSoBlack